IoT-Based Instrumentation for Urban–Rural Thermal Comfort Assessment Using Temperature Humidity Index

Muhammad Afif; Dibyo Susanto; Muchamad Rizqy Nugraha; Achmad Fahruddin Rais

doi:10.63581/JoCPES.v6i2.01

Authors

Muhammad Afif State College of Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics (STMKG) Author
Dibyo Susanto Undergraduate Program in Applied of Instrumentation Meteorology Climatology Geophysics, State College of Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Author

Competing Interests

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Muchamad Rizqy Nugraha Undergraduate Program in Applied of Instrumentation Meteorology Climatology Geophysics, State College of Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Author

Competing Interests

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Achmad Fahruddin Rais National Research and Innovation Agency Author

Competing Interests

-

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63581/JoCPES.v6i2.01

Keywords:

Urban Heat Island, Temperature Humidity Index, Internet of Things (IoT), Thermal Comfort

Abstract

Urbanization alters land surface characteristics and may contribute to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, affecting outdoor thermal comfort. This study presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-based instrumentation system for microclimate monitoring and thermal comfort assessment using the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). The system integrates calibrated DHT22 sensors, an ESP32 microcontroller, a 20×4 LCD, Firebase Realtime Database, and a web dashboard. Sensor calibration against BMKG reference instruments produced maximum deviations of −0.116°C for air temperature and −0.87% for relative humidity. The system was deployed simultaneously for 24 hours at an urban site in Kelurahan Tanah Tinggi and a rural site in Desa Cibodas, with 10-minute sampling intervals. Tanah Tinggi recorded a higher mean air temperature (29.05°C) than Cibodas (26.63°C), lower mean relative humidity (75.77% and 81.93%), and higher mean THI (27.59 and 25.57). Based on Wati and Fatkhuroyan (2017), the mean THI at Tanah Tinggi was classified as “Uncomfortable,” while Cibodas was “Partly Comfortable.” The cumulative distribution showed 58.33% “Uncomfortable” observations at Tanah Tinggi and 65.28% “Comfortable” observations at Cibodas. These results indicate an urban–rural thermal contrast consistent with an urban heat island pattern. However, interpretation is limited by the 24-hour period, two sites, and differences in elevation and local environmental conditions. The proposed system provides a low-cost approach for high-temporal-resolution microclimate monitoring and thermal comfort assessment.

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